Two officials of the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) narrowly escaped a firing incident as Indian troops reportedly targeted their vehicle while they were visiting areas along the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC), DawnNews reported Wednesday.
A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army's media wing, claimed that "Indian troops committed unprovoked ceasefire violation." The Indian troops deployed on LoC, "targeted UNMOGIP vehicle along LOC in Khanjar sector," it added.
According to details shared by the military's media wing, the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP Officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia when it came under fire.
ISPR further said that the officials were targeted despite the blue UN flag hoisted on the vehicle as per procedure.
Both officers remained safe and were rushed back to a safe location.
Last week, Pakistan Army had lodged a protest before military observers from United Nations against 'unprovoked' Indian aggression and firing on civilians from across the LoC.
United Nations Military Observers at UNMOGIP were invited to GHQ to register a protest over "unprovoked ceasefire violations and targeting of civilian population by Indian Army".
The observers were informed that the Indian army violated ceasefire agreement on May 10, 13 and 16, said an earlier statement issued by ISPR.
"Indian Army used small arms, automatic and heavy calibre weapons, heavy mortars (122 mm) and field artillery in Sabzkot, Baroh, Tandar, Khuiratta, Kot Koterra and Karela Sectors to target Pakistani villages."
The observers were also told that a civilian was killed and 15 others, including women and children, injured when Indian troops resorted to firing.
Tense relations
Incidents of cross-border firing have become a norm since the last months of 2016 as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue. Exchanges of fire have been reported sporadically since the new year began.
Following the [Uri army base attack][3] in September, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi [stepped up a drive][4] to 'isolate' Pakistan diplomatically.
In the days following the attack, India claimed to have conducted a cross-border 'surgical strike' against 'launch pads of terror' in Azad Jammu and Kashmir — a claim Pakistan strongly rejected.
Pakistan maintains that India has been [attempting to divert the world's attention][6] away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.